However, in what might be a surprising case for some, the UK has, in fact, got one desert tucked away on the Kent coast.
The stony land of Dungeness is best known for being the base of a now disused Nuclear Power Station.
Although not classified as a desert since 2015, when the Met Office debunked claims, many still brand Dungeness as one due to its barren and unique microclimate that results in low vegetation.
With a landscape comparable to a land from Star Wars, Dungeness was once the destination for affordable family holidays.
The disused Nuclear Power Station in the distance. (Image: Emilia Kettle/Newsquest)
Growing up, my mum would often share memories of enjoying family holidays on the barren land with her parents and older sister.
Sharing how it would only cost £10 for a week’s stay in 1978 in what was once a hidden gem out of reach from the wider world.
But, as all good affordable things do, the peaceful oasis was eventually discovered by the wealthy crowd who, over the decades, began to hike up the property prices in the desert.
In 2025, the average price of a minimum two-night stay in Dungeness will set you back between £800 to £1000.
The spike in price eventually forced out those who once loved and cared for the land, seeing it become yet another place only a small crowd of folk can afford in today’s economy.
Curious to see if Dungeness could still offer the type of peace my mum would often praise, despite it becoming a holiday destination for the rich, I headed down to the UK’s only desert to experience it for myself.
I visited the UK’s only desert and found a peaceful oasis
Although commonly referred to as a desert, Dungeness has no signs of sand or a boiling sun; instead, on the drive to the small parking area, I was met with expansive views of a large, cobbled beach dotted with various weeds leading to a great blue sea.
With a land area of more than 1,600 hectares, the space has a handful of quaint traditional cottages and some more modern, abrasive-looking homes that seemed to take away from the peaceful environment.
Many homes on Dungeness are holiday rentals, but there are a few that are lived in and loved by locals, with some owners selling artwork to visiting tourists in colourful sheds, while others offer free galleries.
You won’t find a small convenience shop in the area, but you will find two pubs at opposite ends of the beach, with the Britannia Inn and The Pilot Inn.
We had parked closer to the Nuclear Power Station, so we opted to nip into the Britannia Inn, which, despite being in desert-like conditions, felt exactly like a pub you would find in any busy town centre.
Expecting prices to be on the higher side with Dungeness quickly becoming a tourist hotspot, I was surprised and happy to find two ice creams and two pints of Coke costing less than £8.
We even returned to the pub after a walk along the shingles to enjoy a giant portion that could easily feed a family of four for some of the tastiest chips I’ve ever had, costing just £4, what a bargain!
Walking around the beach area, I realised it seemed to have its own weather forecast, far from those 10 minutes down the road where it was boiling and sunny.
Instead, Dungeness was brisk with hot wind, surely to cause some unprepared visitors with wind burn that they’ll be moaning about for days.
But with a mum who holidayed in the great desert as a child, I had come prepared with a jumper to stop the wind burn despite it being 30°C elsewhere in Kent.
With a mix of green and brown hues, small cottages, two giant lighthouses and the unmissable power station, Dungeness’ unique landscape is unlike any other.
Some might think the power station takes away from the views, but it seems to add to it, offering a brutalist side of an otherwise perfect space.
Its large open landscape creates a quiet atmosphere that some might find eerie, but I couldn’t help but find it peaceful.
It feels like the place an artist would go to create their best artwork, or a singer visits to write the song of the century.
Dungeness offers a remarkable peace and quiet that makes you feel a million miles away from the worry of everyday life.
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The UK’s only desert is an oasis I don’t want to share
If I could keep Dungeness to myself, I would.
Despite often being described as ‘barren’, the land is a calm oasis tucked away from the stress and harshness of society, which can be so rare to find in the UK.
I know I can’t keep Dungeness to myself, but tragically, it seems like others have already done that.
With homes owned by millionaire celebrities like Ed Sheeran and holiday rentals too expensive for the average person to enjoy, Dungeness has priced out the working-class folk that was once the beating heart of it.
All families should be able to explore the happiness and peace Dungeness gave my mum on her family holidays in the 70s as a child, not just those with deep pockets.
